Sports

Ryder Cup players into last 8 at World Match Play

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:18:28 GMT

KAVARNA, Bulgaria (AP) - Ryder Cup-winning teammates Graeme McDowell, Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco Molinari are through to the quarterfinals of the World Match Play Championship.McDowell beat Bo Van Pelt 2 and 1 on the Thracian Cliffs course Saturday and will meet Colsaerts in a rematch from last year's final. The defending champion won 2 up against Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano after being ahead b...

What to watch for at the Preakness

RICHARD ROSENBLATT — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:39:57 GMT

All eyes will be on Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. The 3-year-old colt will take on eight challengers in the second leg of the Triple Crown. If he wins, Orb will attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978 at the Belmont Stakes on June 8. In the Preakness, Orb will be facing five horses he defeated in the Derby and three who did not run ...

Orb favored to take Preakness, set up Triple try

RICHARD ROSENBLATT — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:39:56 GMT

Everything's a go for Orb.The Kentucky Derby winner was in a playful mood the day before the Preakness, making faces for photographers between nibbles of grass outside his stall at Pimlico Race Course."He's really settled in well. He seems to be energetic about what he's doing so I couldn't be more pleased," trainer Shug McGaughey said on a warm and sunny Friday morning. "We're excited about givin...

Bradley has 3-stroke lead after 2 rounds at Nelson

STEPHEN HAWKINS — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:34:26 GMT

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Keegan Bradley shot a 1-under 69 on Friday in a round that started and ended with bogeys, good enough for a three-stroke lead after two rounds in the Byron Nelson Championship.A day after setting the TPC Four Seasons course record with a 60, also with two bogeys, Bradley went into the weekend at 11-under 129. That is the lowest 36-hole total at the Nelson since 2001.Tom Gillis...

Venturi, US Open champion and CBS analyst, dies

DOUG FERGUSON — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:34:25 GMT

Former U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi has died just 12 days after he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He was 82.His son, Matt Venturi, says he died Friday afternoon in a hospital in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Venturi had been hospitalized the last two months for a spinal infection, pneumonia and an intestinal infection.Venturi was all about overcoming the odds. He won the 1964 U.S. Open a...

Among best announcers, Emrick still rises above

BY JOE POSNANSKI — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:32:17 GMT

The voice of hockey grew up in a town called LaFontaine. That sounds perfect, doesn’t it? LaFontaine! Could a city name sound more like hockey? LaFontaine! It isn’t just the name of a Hall of Famer, the great Pat LaFontaine, it is French, with just the right number of syllables, ideal for the sport. LaFontaine! Say it loud and you can almost hear the puck clank off the pipe, almost see the mad rus...

Spurs hold off Warriors, advance to West finals

ANTONIO GONZALEZ — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:01:58 GMT

Slow at the start of the series and strong at the end, the San Antonio Spurs wore out the Golden State Warriors the way they have so many other opponents.Tim Duncan had 19 points and six rebounds, Kawhi Leonard added 16 points and 10 rebounds and the Spurs held off a furious final rally to beat the Warriors 94-82 in Game 6 on Thursday night and advance to the Western Conference finals."They've got...

Bradley sets record pace with 60 at the Nelson

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:43:03 GMT

(Reuters) - Former champion Keegan Bradley shrugged off two bogeys around the turn to set a course record with a blistering 10-under-par 60 in Thursday's opening round of the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.Taking advantage of preferred lies on a rain-softened layout at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, the 26-year-old American piled up 10 birdies and an eagle at the par-five sev...

Orb to have an inside view of Preakness from rail

DAVID GINSBURG — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:45:36 GMT

For a while there, it looked as if the Preakness was shaping up to be a runaway victory for Kentucky Derby winner Orb.Then came the post-position draw. Suddenly things got very interesting.Orb's pursuit of the Triple Crown received an unexpected jolt Wednesday when trainer Shug McGaughey's horse drew the rail for Saturday's race. McGaughey tried to brush off the development as a mere inconvenience...

Derby winner Orb impresses with workout at Belmont

RICHARD ROSENBLATT — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:51:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) - Kentucky Derby winner Orb has completed his final workout before the Preakness Stakes, breezing four furlongs in 47.18 seconds at Belmont Park.With exercise rider Jennifer Patterson aboard, Orb moved effortlessly around the track Monday morning. The time is considered fast for a final work before a big race.Shug McGaughey was elated with what he saw. The trainer said the way Orb we...

For Tiger, it's all about closing

BY JOE POSNANSKI — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:51:13 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Tiger Woods is the greatest closer in the history of golf, one of the greatest in the history of sports. We can get into some numbers in a minute but first we ask the question: Why?Sure, Woods is one of the greatest drivers, one of the greatest iron players, one of the greatest scramblers and one of the greatest putters ever. Those things are obviously kind of important w...

White Sox 3, Angels 0

BRIAN SANDALOW — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:36:35 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago White Sox needed a big start from ace Chris Sale, and he nearly gave them something historic.Sale took a perfect game into the seventh inning before finishing with a one-hitter, and Chicago beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Sunday night to avoid a three-game sweep. The left-hander retired the first 19 batters he faced before Mike Trout's sharp single to center ended the...

Woods keeps it dry and wins Players Championship

DOUG FERGUSON — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:36:34 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A weekend filled with sharp words between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia came down to one last showdown Sunday in The Players Championship, this one staged across the water in a tiny, terrifying section of the TPC Sawgrass.Tied for the lead with two holes to play, Woods kept his shots on land and made two pars.Garcia hit three balls into the water for a quadruple boge...

Woods keeps it dry and wins Players Championship

DOUG FERGUSON — Mon, 13 May 2013 01:14:00 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods had the last word against Sergio Garcia by winning The Players Championship on Sunday.Woods ended a weekend of verbal sparring with Garcia by doing what he does best - closing out tournaments, even if he let this one turn into a tense duel over the final hour at the TPC Sawgrass. Tied with Garcia with two holes to play, Woods won by finding land on the la...

Woods keeps it dry and wins Players Championship

DOUG FERGUSON — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:57:27 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods had the last word against Sergio Garcia by winning The Players Championship on Sunday.Woods ended a weekend of words with Garcia by finding land on the final two holes for par to close with a 2-under 70. Garcia was tied for the lead as he stood on the 17th tee and stared at the island green. He hit into the water twice to make a quadruple-bogey 7, and the...

Woods leads Players by two with nine holes to go

Larry Fine — Sun, 12 May 2013 21:19:00 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Tiger Woods was playing his familiar role of frontrunner on Sunday as he eased into a two-stroke lead with nine holes left in the Players Championship.World number one Woods was 13 under par heading into the back nine at the Stadium Course with longtime rival Sergio Garcia, 49-year-old Jeff Maggert, Swedish rookie David Lingmerth and Scotsman Martin Laird bun...

Woods puts closer's reputation to test at Players

Larry Fine — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:24:02 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Tiger Woods put his reputation as a closer to the test on Sunday as he set out with a share of the lead in the final round of the 40th Players Championship.World number one Woods, zeroing back into the form that once made other competitors buckle, was tied with longtime rival Sergio Garcia and PGA Tour rookie David Lingmerth of Sweden on 11 under par heading ...

Woods tied with Garcia, Lingmerth at Players

DOUG FERGUSON — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:05:42 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods finally made another birdie and finished off the third round with a 1-under 71, putting him in a three-way tie for the lead with Sergio Garcia and David Lingmerth in The Players Championship.Woods and Garcia will each walk the fairways of the TPC Sawgrass with someone else on Sunday afternoon.Lingmerth bogeyed the 18th for a 69 to finish on 11-under 205. ...

Stormy round at Players for Tiger and Sergio

DOUG FERGUSON — Sun, 12 May 2013 01:24:08 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A rift between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia attracted all the attention on a stormy day at Sawgrass. Swedish rookie David Lingmerth quietly went about his business and wound up atop the leaderboard Saturday in The Players Championship.Lingmerth finished a wild day with an 8-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th and a 10-foot birdie on the island-green 17th to reach 12-u...

Lingmerth in the lead as storms disrupt Sawgrass

DOUG FERGUSON — Sun, 12 May 2013 01:07:33 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Swedish rookie David Lingmerth emerged from the storm clouds to take the lead Saturday in The Players Championship.Lingmerth ended a long day at the TPC Sawgrass with an 8-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole and a 10-foot birdie putt on the island-green 17th. That put him at 12-under-par when the round was suspended because of darkness. There was a two-hour delay earlie...

Spurs 102, Warriors 92

ANTONIO GONZALEZ — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:17:56 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Down and dominated during most of the first two games at home, the San Antonio Spurs once again showed why nobody should ever count them out.Tony Parker scored 25 of his 32 points in a sizzling first half, Tim Duncan added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the Spurs quieted the Golden State Warriors and their rowdy sellout crowd in a 102-92 victory Friday night to take a 2-1 le...

Garcia, Woods put star power back on top at Players

Larry Fine — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:50:07 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Sergio Garcia roared into the Players Championship lead with Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood close behind early in the second round as star power returned to the top of the leaderboard on Friday.Garcia, Woods and Westwood led a scoring parade as eagles and birdies flew all around TPC Sawgrass on a steamy day in what is widely regarded as golf's unofficial fifth ...

Great or not, No. 17 demands attention

Joe Posnanski — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:05:12 GMT

Famous golf holesGolden BellNo. 12 at Augusta National. Par 3. 155 yards.Why it’s famous: The shortest hole at Augusta National is guarded by Rae’s Creek, backed by pine trees and azaleas, accessed over Hogan’s Bridge, and surrounded by a deceptive and swirling wind that even people who have played the Masters dozens of times struggle to read. Jack Nicklaus calls it the best little par-3 in the wo...

OJ says lawyer botched case, wants new trial

KEN RITTER — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:19:23 GMT

O.J. Simpson will return next week to the Las Vegas courthouse where he was convicted of leading an armed sports memorabilia heist to ask a judge for a new trial on the grounds that his lawyer botched his case.Simpson will take the witness stand to testify that the Florida lawyer who collected nearly $700,000 is to blame for his armed robbery and kidnapping conviction in 2008 and his failed appeal...

Roberto Castro opens with a 63 in Players debut

DOUG FERGUSON — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:32:58 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Roberto Castro made a debut he won't soon forget in The Players Championship, opening with a 9-under 63 Thursday to tie the course record at the TPC Sawgrass and build a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and other early starters.Facing the infamous island-green on No. 17 for the first time in competition, Castro left a 9-iron within a foot of the hole. On the dauntin...